It’s third vs fourth in League One as the Terriers take on the Owls, and both sides could end the weekend top of the table if results go their way.

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The two Yorkshire outfits have started their respective 2026/27 campaigns strongly, both losing only once so far, and it’s expected to be a fiercely fought encounter at the Accu Stadium when the two kick off at 3pm.

Drury will have been very pleased with what he’s seen from his side this season, but admitted that he’s not shocked to see Wednesday picking up some good results so far.

“They’re a squad that’s got Championship quality across it,” he said, speaking ahead of the game. “Simon Wilson, the Sporting Director, did an amazing job over the summer in terms of recruitment, but also building the club up from the difficult period that they had.

“So I think they’re in a really good place with the group that they’ve got. It’s not surprising that they’ve been linked with winning the league and being right up there. Rightly so, because they’ve got some real talent, some real threats.

“They’re quick, aggressive, and counter-attack really fast. They’re a threat with bags of quality - but I can say the same thing about us… I think it’ll be a really exciting game.”

Drury also spoke of the home fans, who are set to turn up in their numbers this weekend, and with a sold-out away end, it could be a day to remember for whichever side manages to come out on top.

When asked about the home support, the Terriers boss said, “It’s the biggest thing. Home and away we need them to back us, and they do. We feel like we let them down when we don’t quite get what we want from games. It’s frustrating when we do that, but for the games this season I’d like to think they’ve been pleased with a lot of what they’ve seen. In terms of spirit, togetherness and also the attacking football we’ve been producing.

“Hopefully tomorrow we can do that in our stadium, where we’ve not been for a period of time. I can see it in the eyes of the players that they’re very much looking forward to that, and the staff are talking about not being able to wait to get back in front of the fans. Hopefully this place is rocking, and we can give them something to cheer about.”

Wednesday have a bad record against Huddersfield in recent years, failing to win any of their last six clashes, and they’ve failed to score in all but one of them. Henrik Pedersen will be hoping to change that this weekend as the Owls go in search of their first victory in this match-up since Steven Fletcher and Sam Winnall got on the scoresheet in a 2-0 win back in 2019.

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The Owls have had a hefty injury list for some time now, with some of their players still facing a number of weeks on the sidelines. Tyler Onyango, meanwhile, was ruled out for the rest of the season.

Saturday’s clash is a big one for both sides as third faces fourth, and if results go their way then either team could finish the weekend sitting pretty at the top of the League One table.

Speaking today, Henrik Pedersen gave some updates on where various players were at - and who could miss out this weekend.

Max Lowe and Sil Swinkels

"Max has completed all the tests, and he will be in full training from Monday.

"We hope he can have a good week and be in the squad Saturday or the following Tuesday. His fitness is good, and he is looking forward to training and playing again.

“Sil is going really well, we also hope he can be part of more training from next week."

Ricardo Santos

"There have been some small injury concerns but we will handle this… Ricardo had a little problem with his groin, and we are waiting for the final results to get a complete answer."

Di’Shon Bernard

"Dish has trained really, really well... He needed some recovery days after the last game but he is available for the squad tomorrow."

The Opponents

The home side have a whole host of injury issues, with the likes of Jack Whatmough, Herbie Kane, Marcus McGuane, Ryan Ledson and David Kasumu all set to miss out.

Joe Taylor, meanwhile, could return to the starting XI after he missed the 3-1 win over Burton Albion because of his efforts at international level with Wales. Terriers manager, Martin Drury, is yet to speak to the media ahead of the tie, so it’s unknown if there are any fresh concerns for them.

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Like so many of his young teammates at Hillsborough, Emery was thrust into a difficult environment amidst protests and administration takeover talk. In a normal season he’d have spent his time playing for the U21s, but in the Owls’ 2025/26 season of turmoil he was called upon to help the cause.

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“It’s difficult to get your head around, really,” he said, speaking to The Wednesday Word. “You still can’t quite believe it when you’re playing a Championship game, or when you’ve played a couple of games for the senior side. But it was all a great experience - it was amazing to be out there, to have the opportunity and to play as many games as I did. I’m just very grateful.”

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It’s been a very busy period over at S6, with years’ worth of work being completed in a matter of months following Arise’s takeover of the club. The North Stand required particular attention, with improvements needing to be made in order for it to even open after it drifted into disrepair during Dejphon Chansiri’s time in charge.

Arise wasted no time in undertaking the work needed to get it up to code, and while the faint outline of the former owner’s name remains barely visible, the stand is in much better shape than it was prior to May’s takeover.

Two of the companies involved in the job, Foxton Construction and CAN – which is an acronym of Corde à Noeuds, the French for knotted rope, have given a bit of detail into what the last few months have looked like for them at Hillsborough.

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“Foxton Construction is pleased to be supporting Sheffield Wednesday Football Club with the refurbishment of the North Stand,” the former said. “Following our appointment to assist with the upgrades, the team worked collaboratively with Arup to develop an agreed programme of works, ensuring the stand was ready for the Club’s first fixture on the 20th of August.

“Operating within a complex live environment, the project presented several technical challenges, including the refurbishment of an existing structure, working at height and the safe management of the existing paint.

“The initial works included structural weld repairs and remedial drainage improvements to enhance the spectator experience. The site team worked closely with our trusted supply chain to mobilise quickly and deliver these essential works safely, enabling the team to meet the tight programme ahead of the first fixture.

“With the initial works now complete, the project moves into its next phase, focusing on the full repainting of the North Stand and restoring it to its iconic Sheffield Wednesday blue.”

A lick of paint will no doubt go down well amongst fans, and there’s hope that the whole stadium will get the same treatment as time goes on. There are also plans to renovate the actual seating on the North in the future, too.

As for CAN, they’ve spoken about the logistical challenges that come with such a vast and varied project – especially when working to such a tight schedule.

In a post on social media, they said, “At Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, we’re carrying out essential maintenance works to the existing cantilever roof, with around 76 new purlins being installed across 19 bays.

“The project is being delivered using a combination of rope access and CAN-Span, allowing our team to access the underside of the roof and carry out the works without relying on conventional access methods… We’re working closely with Foxton Construction across the stadium, with various trades being carried out at once. This means close coordination with painters, welders and other contractors is essential as the scope continues to develop.

“Getting the project up and running within a short lead time has been logistically challenging, making collaboration between the CAN and Foxton teams particularly important. The site team has adapted well to an ever-changing scope while maintaining high standards of safety and performance.

“The project is progressing well and is expected to continue through to October, with the team maintaining a strong focus on safety and collaboration.”

On top of the new purlins, CAN have also been charge of the reinstatement of drainage sheeting to the underside of the famous cantilever roof.

While the changes and improvements have been many, both visible and unseen, there is still a long way to go when it comes to Arise’s vision for the home of the Owls. Millions have been spent already, and there’s plenty still left to do.

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Not many footballers get to live the dream of playing for their boyhood club, but Sheffield Wednesday fan, Nicky Weaver, is one of the lucky few.

The former Owls shot-stopper and staff member joined us on this week's edition of The Wednesday Word to talk about his SWFC story, which includes a famous promotion, a necessary departure, and a training ground moment to remember with a club legend.

He also chats about what it was like being at Hillsborough during the Dejphon Chansiri era.

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Jaden Heskey and Barry Bannan got the goals at Hillsborough as the Owls ran out as 2-0 winners in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy, finishing the evening top of their group after two matches played.

The fixture was another chance for Pedersen to take a look at some of the up-and-coming players in the club’s academy, but also offered an opportunity for senior players to prepare for this weekend’s big game against Huddersfield Town.

Wednesday were meant to take on Derby County in a behind-closed-doors friendly during the international break that was cancelled late in the day, and tonight’s tie meant that some of the potential starters on Saturday could improve their sharpness.

“It was a good game,” Pedersen told Radio Sheffield afterwards. “A lot of the young guys got minutes, and the senior players also got a little bit. It was important because Derby cancelled our game last week. It’s been a long time since we had game practice.

“Our first half was strong, we saw our high pressing again and the intensity in our game - with and without the ball. The second half we started well, but lost our intensity for a while. Then we brought it back again.

“It was a good result to score two goals and get a clean sheet again.”

In terms of injury news, Ali Al-Hamadi has trained today following his ankle injury whilst away with Iraq, while Ernie Weaver was left out as a precautionary measure after picking up a minor knock ahead of the game. There are no concerns over Di’Shon Bernard.

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And that’s no comment on the opposition’s performance, they had some good moments… It was quite literally Wednesday against Sunderland’s U21s - who fielded a whole host of teenagers.

For some it’ll always be the LDV Vans Trophy, for others it’s the Johnstone’s Paint. For many Wednesdayites it’s still known as the Pizza Cup after the three years it spent sponsored by Papa Johns…

Whatever you call it, there’s no doubt that the EFL Trophy is one that’s been hugely diluted over the years. It’s a competition where an extra point is given for a penalty shootout win and where U21 teams from the Premier League travel to teams in League One and League Two. In the early stages especially, it’s hard to take it too seriously.

But silverware is silverware, I suppose, and Henrik Pedersen showed no sign of throwing in the towel despite the Owls’ young opponents tonight. While there was plenty of youth out there in blue and white, there were a number of experienced heads as well - both in the XI and on the bench.

The first half was a pretty frantic one. There were chances at both ends, with Joe Cowan doing well to keep out a bouncing Callum Slattery header, and Connal Trueman pulling off an excellent stop down to his left.

Jaden Heskey was the man to break the deadlock, though, after some nice play from Jarvis Thornton and Sean Fusire saw the ball land at the midfielder’s feet. The Manchester City man calmly dinked it over the ‘keeper to get his first senior goal, and it was 1-0.

The Black Cats’ kids had their chances, and none of them were better than the one that fell to 31-year-old Alan Browne not long before half-time. A nice move left him with space in the box, but he blazed it into an empty Kop…

Wednesday went in at the break a goal to the good, and though the visitors probably should’ve had a goal, the home side were good value for their lead. Liam Palmer was excellent, as was Billy Mitchell, and Slattery was bombing about like it was a competitive league fixture. No complaints.

With the second half came a raft of changes. Mitchell went off for Barry Bannan, Denny Oliver made his debut in place of Slattery and Jamal Lowe went up front as Mason Burstow left the field. Meanwhile, Reece James took over for Ricardo Santos, with Palmer moving centrally.

The home side nearly doubled their lead within minutes, too, and Lowe would’ve added to his tally for the season had it not been for an excellent Cowan save from close range.

Chances weren’t quite as regular as the Owls shot towards the Kop, but there were still a few opportunities that came Wednesday’s way. Joel Akpobi, in his second start, showed some nice footwork but couldn’t trouble the ‘keeper, while Fusire looked really sharp down the right side after returning from international duty with Zimbabwe.

The visitors did actually have the ball in the net after we entered into the final 20 minutes, with Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi on hand to fire past Trueman, however it was rightly ruled out for offside. A let-off for Wednesday after a nice bit of play from the visiting side.

Pedersen’s final change saw Sam Duruh take the place of Thornton, who looked to have picked up a late knock… With just under 15 minutes to go, Wednesday were very much in the driving seat.

Then came the killer blow. There was some fortune in the way that the ball found Bannan in the Sunderland box, but no fortune in the way that he finished it… He pulled back that reliable left foot of his before firing past Cowan with a blistering effort that nestled inside the side-netting. 2-0, game over, and goal number 38 in appearance number 487 for the Owls’ number 10.

It’s not the priority, not by any stretch, but a couple of goals and a clean sheet will be welcomed by Wednesday. Most Wednesdayites - myself included - don’t have an EFL Trophy win on their list of desires for the current campaign… But we’ll all change our tune if it ends up with another trip to Wembley.

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Weaver played 71 times for the Owls over two spells - one loan and one permanent - but had to leave to come back as he departed the club’s ranks as a teenager after a lengthy spell out due to injury.

That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have some great memories from his younger days at Middlewood Road, though…

Speaking to The Wednesday Word about his original period at Hillsborough, the childhood Wednesdayite recalled a moment involving one of English football’s greats, Trevor Francis, during his time over at S6.

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Craig Thompson is probably best known for his role in Coronation Street, or as the moustached protagonist in Murdoch Mysteries. But the actor, who took his stage name from the long-serving Owl from the 1960s and 1970s, is also a vehement Wednesdayite.

Over his time travelling home and away with the Owls he’s seen plenty of good and plenty of bad from the lads in blue and white, but one of the most memorable Wednesday moments came whilst he was on a film set in Canada. And his experience of the Miracle of Hillsborough has now been set to stage.

“You kind of set the ball rolling when you took my article off Owlstalk and published it in the Sheffield Star,” he told me, speaking a couple of days before tickets go on sale. “It’s actually the only thing I’ve ever written! But yeah, I was chatting to a friend of mine last year, Jonathan Maitland, who’s a playwright. We were just talking about writing one-man shows or things for Edinburgh, and he asked me if I’d ever written anything. I said, ‘No, apart from an article about football’.

“He said, ‘Send it to me and I’ll read it!’ So I sent it to him, and it was his idea to turn it into a play, not mine. My article was the genesis of the thing, but it was Jonathan who decided it would make a good play. He originally thought it’d make a good one-man show for Edinburgh, about 45 minutes. Then he thought of expanding it to three men because it takes place in my trailer at work with two Canadian guys. So he thought he’d call it Three Men in a Trailer.

“Then he decided to interview me all about my backstory, my parents and my family. He’s expanded it to seven actors now, and it’s about 80 minutes without an interval… It’s segued into my family, and it’s about dads and sons and family connections that keep you bonded together through a certain football club. So it is very Wednesday-centric, but I’m sure fans of other clubs would get the whole thing, and that it would resonate with them.”

It’s called ‘The Miracle of Sheffield: Mum, Dad, Football & Me’, and the world premiere will be at the Library Theatre in the Steel City on March 25th, running through until April 23rd.

Craig will be playing two of the parts, both himself in 2023 as well as his dad in the ‘80s, and they’re hoping that they’ll be some good crowds in the 250-seater – with fans of all teams set for a good time.

“The action splits from 2023 in Toronto to early-’80s Sheffield in a Working Men’s Club,” the lead went on to explain. “So it features my mum and dad, and me as a young boy… My cousin came to see the rehearsal read-through. He’s a Cambridge professor and he’s a mad Wednesday fan - he’s also 70 years old! He was a page boy at my mum and dad’s wedding.

“After the read-through, he was in tears. He thought he was just coming to see a play about Sheffield Wednesday, and he couldn’t believe it was about his family as well, you know what I mean? So he was in bits in the bar, but in a good way. It was emotional for him.

“We had a lot of people at the rehearsal read-through who were not Wednesday-connected or football-connected, and everybody enjoyed it. There were a lot of people there who got a lot out of it, I think, many who said you didn’t have to be a football fan to enjoy it. It’s a play that I would invite people to see if they don’t go to theatre, if you know what I mean?”

Craig’s never hid his love for Wednesday, crowbarring the Owls – sometimes literally – into his various roles over the years. Now, with a new dawn at Hillsborough and positivity about the place again, he’s looking forward to treading the boards back in his home town once again – especially with the beautiful game at the heart of it.

“It’s more than just football - we all know that. It’s more than 90 minutes. It’s about the social aspect and maintaining contact with people you don’t really see anymore.”

Tickets range from £18 to £25, and are available at www.miracleofsheffield.com from Wednesday morning.

Thanks for being part of The Wednesday Word family. Your fiver a month helps fund the entire project - whether it’s the articles, the YouTube or the social media platforms. Your support is hugely appreciated! Don’t forget you can get 10% off at the TWW store - just drop me a message for your code!

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There were the sales of players such as Caelan-Kole Cadamarteri, Yisa Alao and Romario Collins, and the compensation that has come in for youngsters like Sutura Kakay. And that’s before we mention the fact that there were points last season where the Owls wouldn’t have had a team to put out had it not been for their academy graduates.

Were they all ready for senior football? Definitely not. Were they thrust into a difficult position? Absolutely. Did they perform admirably when fast-tracked to a level that – in normal circumstances – they wouldn’t have been near? I’d say so.

Henrik Pedersen has done an excellent job nurturing those that came up through the ranks. We’ve seen progress in so many of the young players, and those that remain around the first team are there on merit now rather than necessity.

But despite the positives, and the deserved plaudits for those in the academy, it all comes at a cost that could mean some difficult results for the U21s and U18s in particular over the course of the 2026/27 season.

Cadamarteri, Alao and Collins were sold to Manchester City and Chelsea, sales that effectively paid people’s wages at the club. But with the latter gone and Will Grainger now with the first team, one of the deadliest duos from the U18s is no longer available at youth level.

There’s also the element of continuous development. Having played in the Championship now, it’ll be hard for some of Wednesday’s younger players to drop back into being U21 footballers. Mentally they’ll be past that point, which is why it’s been important to send several of them out on loan to play senior football elsewhere. Logan Stretch, Devlan Moses, Joe Emery and Reece Johnson would all be starting for Mark Burton’s side otherwise.

The same goes for Ernie Weaver and Jarvis Thornton had they not established themselves as part of the first team over the last 12 months.

Departures meant a raft of new arrivals over the summer, and they need to click as well. But with several U21s needed by the seniors, we’re seeing U18s being pushed up a level and U16s being asked to step up as well. So first-year scholars are turning out for the U18s, and playing against footballers two years older than them. Two years might not mean much in your mid-20s, but as a teenager it can result in big mismatches in terms of physicality and know-how.

Wednesday have some highly rated players in their academy still, and the likes of Oliver Bramhall, Jamie Darley, Logan Scott and Charlie Liddell have been part of the U21s despite only signing their first scholarship deals over the summer.

Ultimately the current situation could be fantastic for their respective development going forward, and could lead to a number of them being moulded into Owls of the future, but there is a sense of short-term pain for long-term gain.

SWFC’s academy has played a huge role in keeping the club ticking in spite of Dejphon Chansiri’s disregard… Now, with Arise taking a keen interest in creating more future first-teamers, imagine what could be achieved.

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“Would you believe that when he was younger, Joel was teased at school for being rubbish at football. Personally, I think that made him work even harder to prove them wrong. I think it’s safe to say he has proved a point!”

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That’s Rob Parara, who oversaw the growth of a young Akpobi. Total Development Academy is situated in Thamesmead, London, and it’s where the young attacker took his first steps on the road to his standout performance away at Salford City.

That road has not been a simple one, though, and it’s featured rejection, and criticism, and sacrifice. But one thing remained - his desire to make it.

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So, where to start with the week that was? Liam Cooper won the club’s Player of the Month, and it was confirmed that Wednesdayites had done their thing once again by selling out their allocation of 2,342 tickets for Huddersfield Town away.

We’re running a 25% discount on annual subscriptions, by the way…

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Will Vaulks showed once again what a tremendous person he was by involving Wednesday in his new Baton of Hope initiative, and Kelvin Stanford was appointed as the club’s new Head of Catering Operations. There was also footage of Di’Shon Bernard with some tremendous finishing in training, oh - and Fernando Forestieri has signed in the National League North with Oxford City.

Elsewhere, long-serving member of the behind-the-scenes team at Wednesday, Lindsey Hinton, has been handed a title change - going from ‘Club Secretary’ to ‘ Head of Football Administration and Operations’, which she says ‘helps the perception of what I actually do’.

With that, welcome to Sheffield Wednesday Mondays…

From our side, we had some comments on Davis Keillor-Dunn and the vital role that he could play going forward, and there were a couple of jumps around the club as Wednesday’s players represented their respective nations - here’s part one and part two of that.

Speaking of international football, there was a withdrawal for Logan Stretch, and Wednesday saw a request to get Will Grainger back early denied.

Dom and I sat down for a new episode of The Wednesday Word Show, and we also announced that he’d joined us on a permanent basis. As previously mentioned, we’re running a special that gets you a year of TWW for £37.50 to celebrate.

We had two pieces with Jaden Heskey, too. The first was him talking about a potential move back to Hillsborough that isn’t a loan, and the second was a long read that covered a whole host of topics such as his time spent with Manchester City’s first team, and how the Hillsborough crowd can make you feel ‘invincible’ - read that below.

Devlan Moses missed a Northern Ireland youth game due to illness, Henrik Pedersen spoke about his big Wednesday wish, and there was a return to winning ways for Sheffield Wednesday Ladies as Amy Broomhead scored from the halfway line.

And that’s that for this Sheffield Wednesday Mondays! We’ll be doing a new one every week to make sure you can see our best work, and if you want to uncheck the other sections, then feel free to do so…

The Owlesses returned to Clay Wheels Lane looking for a response to last weekend’s disappointing 4-1 defeat to Evolution Ladies, and were hoping to see an increased crowd present with the men’s team not in action.

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They needed a positive start, and they showed great attitude to get a goal within the first minute. Their determination allowed them to win the ball high up the pitch, before Nicole Shaw knocked it through to Amy Broomhead who finished well.

It was an open start to the game, with neither side able to enjoy much sustained possession and both goalkeepers were consistently called into action. Wednesday continued to show great energy across the pitch as they sought to maintain their early advantage.

York did respond to their early setback, though, and began to build momentum. A deflected through-ball put Elizabeth Ogilby one-on-one with Holly Coughlan but she was denied by the post before putting the rebound wide. Ogilby immediately got a chance to rectify her miss, however, picking up a loose clearance and slotting the ball into the net comfortably… She could’ve had another quickly after, too, but her headed finish was ruled out as offside.

Wednesday looked at their best when putting pressure on the backline, winning possession, and attacking quickly. On one such occasion, Annie Hall pinched the ball from the York defender before squaring it to Shaw - who unfortunately couldn’t keep her effort down.

Broomhead struck again around the half-hour mark, breaking the deadlock in brilliant fashion. Just inside the York half, she brought the ball down, noticed the goalkeeper off of her line and lifted it over her into the back of the net. The crowd enjoyed that one, and the home side led again. 2-1.

The away team remained a threat - especially from Sophia Drew’s long throws - but Wednesday remained resolute across the pitch. Coughlan was called into action a number of times, and did excellently to tip Bella Marshall’s freekick onto the crossbar before gathering the rebound.

The Owlesses went into half time with the lead, but it was too close to call the end result.

Both sides struggled to create chances at the start of the second half, but there was a real battling spirit to the game. New signing Daisy Munn made her debut for the home side, with the Canadian adapting quickly to the pace and physicality of English football.

Ogilby had several opportunities for the visitors, but Wednesday were equal to them. Again, Coughlan comfortably dealt with the efforts that came her way, while the defenders recovered well to keep the visitors at bay.

York’s best chances came from a string of corners, allowing the visitors to build sustained pressure, and it was during this passage of play that Wednesday were forced to make two goal-line clearances. The visitors were pushing, but the Owlesses were standing firm.

As the half went on, the home side were able to get on the ball more often, and gain increased control of the tie. Jodie Gregory came close from the edge of the box, with her effort curling narrowly wide of the post, and while York searched for an equaliser they weren’t able to fashion any significant chances.

As added time approached, Gregory was unfortunately forced off with injury, joining Jess Birtles, Rachel Norsworthy, Giovanna Petrucelli and Milly Colford on the Owlesses’ growing injury list. We’ll have to wait and see how long she faces out.

Ultimately, Wednesday’s attitude carried them through to the win. It feels like a big result; and takes them to 7 points from a possible 12. It also puts Broomhead on 3 goals in 2 games, and shows that Lee’s troops are able to adapt well to setbacks - even in his absence.

Birtles, who was responsible for managing the game, said that she was ‘so proud of the response’ after last week.

The team will now look forward to a trip to Thackley AFC Women, who currently sit on top of the table. With the standings still taking shape, and the results so far highlighting just how competitive this league is, Wednesday will be confident that they can challenge the league leaders.

This article is available for free, but if you like what you’ve seen from The Wednesday Word, then a paid subscription would mean the world to us - and allow us to keep doing everything that we’re doing in the TWW universe. We want to keep improving, and growing, and for that we need your support! Thank you!

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The Owls have been hard at work at Middlewood Road as Henrik Pedersen puts his side through their paces ahead of their return to action in the Jersy Mike’s Trophy, and it’s going to be interesting to see what line-up the Dane goes with when they face Sunderland’s U21s.

The likes of Joel Akpobi, Sam Duruh, Fortune Onoh and Denny Oliver have been training with the first team this week, and while Ali Al-Hamadi is back with the Owls after injury cut short his spell with Iraq, there was no sign of him in training. Wednesday played an in-house game on Thursday as part of their prep.

Away from Sheffield, there’s been plenty happening on the international scene from a Wednesday perspective…

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Kieran Morrison’s last outing was the standout, with the Liverpool loanee getting his first start for Northern Ireland as they took on Ukraine in the Nations League. He repaid Michael O’Neill’s faith in him by picking up his first international assist, and will be hoping that his performance will have earned him another start against Georgia tomorrow night.

Elsewhere, Harry Gray came on as a substitute for England’s U19s on Friday as they beat the USA 2-1, and he’ll be eager to get more minutes for his nation against Belgium tomorrow afternoon.

Will Grainger started for Wales U19s against Norway, but was brought off at half-time as Cymru fell to a 2-0 defeat. They’re back in action on Monday against Northern Ireland, with the FAW rejecting Wednesday’s request to get the teenager back to feature in the EFL Trophy.

Meanwhile, Devlan Moses missed out for NI’s U21 Euros qualifier against Georgia due to illness, but there’s hope that he could recover in time to feature against Greece on Tuesday.

And lastly, in a bit of a strange one, Yan Valery’s Tunisia were due to face Mali in a friendly on Saturday after their two African Cup of Nations qualifiers, but the friendly was called off because - according to Reuters - the Tunisian Football Federation were worried about risking a result that could affect their position in the FIFA rankings.

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Sheffield Wednesday are scheduled to play at least 17 matches between now and the end of 2026 – potentially 18 if they reach last 32 of the Jersey Mike’s Trophy.

Whatever unfolds in the coming months, the January transfer window is still shaping up to be a relatively quiet one at Hillsborough. The heavy lifting was done in the summer: 18 new signings, Championship-level experience dropping into League One and genuine competition for places across most areas of the pitch.

And while valid concerns linger over the team’s conservative style of play, Henrik Pedersen has made Wednesday difficult to beat. One defeat in seven, 14 points from a possible 21 – supporters may be split on ‘Pedersen-ball’, but Wednesday have found a way to grind out results.

So do they actually need reinforcements required in January? The squad is well stocked in most departments. But one area still feels light: attacking firepower. Losing marquee signing Louie Barry has had a significant impact on their creativity and goal threat. Barry had just hit top form when his ankle ligament injury at Wycombe Wanderers derailed everything.

No one has truly claimed the No 10 role in Pedersen’s fluid 4-2-3-1 system. Callum Slattery and Davis Keillor-Dunn have shown flashes, but Wednesday have lacked invention and penetration since Barry’s setback. Replacing Barry was always going to be difficult and Jamal Lowe, Harry Gray and Kieran Morrison have all tried to plug the gap on the left with mixed success. Northern Ireland international Morrison, in truth, is far more natural on the right.

The bigger question is whether Wednesday have enough goals in the squad to sustain a promotion challenge. More chances must be created for the front line. Pedersen talks constantly about verticality, but Wednesday do not have an out-and-out number nine. They can’t go direct, can’t hit a big target man and can’t play with a striker who pins two centre-backs. Jamal Lowe and Mason Burstow aren’t suited to playing with their back to goal. Ali Al-Hamadi is the closest thing they have but he has endured a frustrating start to his Wednesday career. Foot/ankle injuries have disrupted his rhythm. It is unclear whether he will be fully fit after the elongated break.

Right now, Wednesday lack a physical focal point – a battering ram who can hold the ball up, relieve pressure and give them a different route to goal. The last time Wednesday were promoted from this division, they had Michael Smith and Lee Gregory. Before that, Chris O’Grady and Gary Madine. There’s no shame in going long when Plan A is not working. Sometimes you need variety to keep opponents guessing.

The recruitment team did outstanding work in a whirlwind summer, transforming the squad at remarkable speed. But it will be fascinating to see whether they do try to upgrade their attacking options. We are yet to see the best of Keillor-Dunn in a Wednesday shirt and his short-term contract expires in January. He is playing for his future. If he impresses, there is a strong possibility Wednesday may look to extend his loan.

But the club is operating under transfer restrictions. They already have six loan players and only five can be named in a matchday squad. The budget will be tight. Creativity in the market will be essential. To bring in a striker, a loanee may have to return to their parent club.

Even so, an out-and-out number nine feels like the missing piece of the jigsaw.

This article is available for free, but if you like what you’ve seen from The Wednesday Word, then a paid subscription would mean the world to us - and allow us to keep doing everything that we’re doing in the TWW universe. We want to keep improving, and growing, and for that we need your support! Thank you!

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The international break means that Henrik Pedersen’s side won’t be taking to the field on Saturday, but on Sunday afternoon Sheffield Wednesday Ladies will be doing their best to return to winning ways after seeing their unbeaten start to the season halted last weekend.

They face York City Ladies Development at the Jubilee Sports Club, and it’s free entry for the 2.30pm kick off… SWLFC would love to see some of those who’d usually be Hillsborough-bound head over to the Jubes to cheer them on.

“This Sunday, we need your help,” they said. “Wednesday is more than 90 minutes. More than one team. More than one ground. This Sunday, our First Team return to Clay Wheels Lane looking for a response — and they would love the Wednesday family there with them.

“Wherever. Whenever. Wednesday. Three words with a simple meaning… Following Wednesday doesn’t begin when the turnstiles open at Hillsborough, and it doesn’t have to end when the final whistle blows.

“It’s the badge. The colours. The people. The feeling of belonging to something that stretches far beyond 90 minutes… And this Sunday, there’s another Wednesday team pulling on the blue and white.

“Sheffield Wednesday Ladies are back at Clay Wheels Lane as our First Team welcome York City Ladies Development — and this weekend means a little more than simply playing another fixture.

“Last Sunday hurt. The Owlesses suffered their first defeat of the season, with a difficult afternoon bringing an excellent unbeaten start to an end.

“Football gives you very little time to dwell on disappointment, though. Seven days later, you go again… Another Sunday. Another 90 minutes. Another opportunity to respond. And this time, the players would love to have you there with them…

“Wednesday has never been defined by one postcode. For generations, supporters have followed Sheffield Wednesday around the country & around Europe.

“Home or away. Sunday or Wednesday. Sunshine or rain. If Wednesday are playing, Wednesdayites are there. That same support can stretch to Clay Wheels Lane… It might not be Hillsborough… There might not be tens of thousands of people alongside you.

“But the badge is still an owl. The shirts are still blue and white. And the players stepping onto that pitch are representing Sheffield Wednesday Football Club.”

The Wednesday Word spoke to long-serving midfielder - and lifelong Wednesdayite - Jodie Stancill ahead of the clash, and she’s eager to see a response after last weekend’s defeat.

“We’re looking forward to getting back out there this weekend after drawing 3-3 with York City Development in our first game of the season away at their ground. We know we’ve got more to give, and the focus has been on working hard during the week, putting things into place and making sure we’re ready to give everything on the pitch.

“We want to play our style of football, move the ball with confidence and impose ourselves on the game. While we respect the opposition, we’ll be going into the match looking for the win and will be determined to put in a performance that we can all be proud of. We’re ready to work hard together as a team and give everything from the first whistle to the last.

“The support really does mean a lot to us. Seeing people heading over to the Jubilee and getting behind the ladies helps create a great atmosphere, especially when we’re out there battling for every ball. So if you can make it this weekend, get yourselves down and support us.”

Head over to the Jubilee at 2.30pm on Sunday, and support the Owlesses.

This article is available for free, but if you like what you’ve seen from The Wednesday Word, then a paid subscription would mean the world to us - and allow us to keep doing everything that we’re doing in the TWW universe. We want to keep improving, and growing, and for that we need your support! Thank you!

Subscribe now

The Owls entered the first international break of the 2026/27 season sitting second in League One, having collected 14 points from their opening seven matches. Expectation levels have soared at S6 since Arise’s takeover…

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The US consortium have transformed Wednesday’s fortunes on and off the pitch, investing millions of pounds into upgrading the playing squad and delivering major improvements to Hillsborough and the training ground.

The feelgood factor has returned, with record season tickets sold and Wednesday averaging more than 30,000 for home matches.

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And with that in mind, it’s our pleasure to announce that we’re adding a new permanent member to the TWW team, with Dom Howson coming on board to bolster the sort of content that we can bring your way.

Dom is an incredibly experienced journalist and author who spent years covering the Owls, and has also become a good friend of mine over the years. His addition to the team will mean more bang for your buck here on the website, but also means more interviews, more video content, and more news coming your way on whichever TWW platform you prefer.

To celebrate Dom’s arrival we’ve decided to offer a 25% annual discount for a full subscription, which means you get the whole TWW package for about £3 a month.

The Balls Out Discount

On top of attending press conferences and other media opportunities in Sheffield, Dom will also be travelling up and down the country as Henrik Pedersen’s men look to push for promotion, speaking to the manager and players for insights – asking the questions you want answered.

Profenx and I are delighted to have him on board, and he’s pretty chuffed to be here as well…

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of the TWW family,” he said. “This club means the world to me and has given me so much in my life, and it’s remarkable how Joe has built such a vibrant Wednesday universe in a relatively short space of time.

“I’m really looking forward to working closely with Joe - a good friend and a quality operator - and helping to build on the excellent foundations he has already laid.”

We’ll be doing a YouTube show every two weeks, with every other week being myself and special guest. If you haven’t had chance yet, go check out my chats with John Harkes, Miguel Llera and many more.

On top of the TWW discount, I’ve also moved to insert a discount on our entire ‘Balls Out’ range over of the store, so you can pick any of them out and the voucher code will be automatically applied.

Once again, thank you all so much for your support so far, and I really hope that you enjoy all of extra stuff coming your way now that we’ve got an extra pair of hands in the mix.

As always, if there’s any Wednesday content you’re after, if there’s anything you’d like us to look into, just drop us a comment or an email and we’ll do our best to make it happen.

Up the Owls.

Joe

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The Balls Out Discount

Wednesday’s 2025/26 campaign was a torrid one. In many ways it felt relentless and unrewarding. It wasn’t the sort of place that many young up-and-comers would fancy playing, especially if they’ve been enjoying the comforts of Manchester City’s top-of-the-range facilities.

But Heskey isn’t like some of the other young lads in academies like City’s. He’s got a steel about him, a combativeness and physicality that shows on the pitch, but also a mentality that could well set him apart from the others as he embarks on the early stages of a blossoming career.

It probably also helped that his old man, Emile, knows a thing or two about Wednesday, as well.

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